Updates on Rector Hall Fire.

• Fortunately, this was not another Seton Hall – no one was injured.
• Despite what we all learned after that tragedy, students did not immediately evacuate when they heard the alarm or pounding on their door, because they throught it was just a prank or a drill. This is my biggest frustration as a Hall Director — we had a popcorn fire (don’t laugh) last Thursday which set off our building alarm and filled the 2nd floor with smoke, yet students didn’t want to evacuate.
• Total damage is estimated at $1 million. A fund is being set up to help students without insurance.
• It took 12 fire departments pitching in to fight to the fire. Three firefighters were injured.
• I’m amazed by the resources on the university website. Quicktime movie clips of the fire? Fascinating and disturbing. They’ve sure come a long way since I was on the committee that set up the school’s first homepage…